No T Words mentioned at all - a fresh start

candlelight_2013

:xmassign: Hi everyone,

I didn't have much sleep last night because of the awful wind. It was blowing like a hooley, I came downstairs to make a drink and it was blowing down the chimney. It is much calmer now.

We had a lovely evening, my friend and her family came and had a bit of supper and we exchanged presents. Flora was totally spoilt because they were making a big fuss of her, and she was very patient with everyone.

Took DD to physio this morning, she has an appointment with her surgeon on Christmas Eve so hoping for some good news. She is certainly walking better, not so laboured, so hopefully the bone has healed.

Presents have been wrapped, cards have been posted and lots of food in the freezer so all set for Christmas andwe haven't spent a fortune either.

Lyn I am sure you and DD will have a wonderful time in Berlin, you never know there might be a few snow flurries:)

FTM are the girls really excited yet? Do they have a little tree in their bedroom. DGD2 always has a pink tree in her room, she is definitely a pink and glitter girl.

SM how is the weather now with you. It is good you are able to work from home. I know you have quite a bit of snow in Scotland, I am sure it looks lovely, but how practical is it. No sign of snow here but that hooley last night really worried me. I know I can't do anything about it, but I worry about damage to the roof and fencing.

We haven't anything in particular planned for the weekend, will pop out tomorrow for a few bits and then I must do some washing. It certainly isn't the weather for putting the washing out, although it isn't raining here at the moment but it did rain al night.

Have a good weekend all and stay safe

Much love

Candlelightx:j:xmastree:

candlelight_2013

:xmastree:Good evening all,

We have had a lovely day here. Weather slightly warmer than it has been and dry.

Popped to see DD this morning, and then before lunch my Sister and BIL came to visit. They are just back from their trip to the Sunshine State so it was good to see them again. They only went for 6 weeks this time, sometimes they are away for 3 months.

They didn't want lunch, but I made some sausage rolls, mince pies and cranberry and white chocolate fairy cakes. which they seemed to enjoy. We exchanged Christmas cards and they brought cards for our grandchildren. They were only going to stay for an hour, but stayed for 3 so that was nice.

I have washing to do first thing in the morning before we take DD shopping. I am with the Practice Nurse in the afternoon for a BP check, I don't know why, they just phoned me last week and said I needed to go in. There must be a box on my records which hasn't been ticked, because when I have my check up at the surgery they always take my BP. I have had high BP since I was about 36, so I am sure nothing has changed, I am still taking the tablets:j

A reasonably quiet week hopefully ahead and will hope to keep on top of the washing and housework. You might think I am mad but I have to have clean bed linen on for Christmas Eve. I have always done this and another reason is I love bed linen and towels. Himself wonders about me sometimes, but he never moans.

Hello to everyone, Hoglet, SM, VJs Mum, Lyn and FTM. Thank you so much for Christmas card and pressie.

AOT are you OK?

Well thats enough of my ramblings take care all.

Much love to you all

Candlelightx:j

hoglet121

Morning everyone :-)

Candlelight - goodness, that wind sounds horrible. I hope it hasn't caused you any damage.

Well that weekend passed quickly (don't they all?!) Fri night was my husband's work Christmas function so we were back late from that, and we had an enjoyable night. The food was delicious, although the city was absolutely packed with other work dos!

Saturday I got some more veg from the new market and yellow stickered treasures in the supermarket. I made muffins to decide which ones to do for Christmas - blueberry won handsdown. Just shows if it works, don't mess with it.

The weather was appalling all weekend - my washing all ended up in the tumble dryer. Yesterday we had absoutely torrential rain - there was a river coming down the drive at one point, and the wind was very strong. It is likely to be bad all week. I got the tomato plants tied up a bit better, but I'll be surprised if it all survives. Summer is being very strange this year.

Anyway, we got some housework done - borrowed a carpet shampooer to attack the awful stains in the hallway. Lets not discuss the colour of the water coming out of it..... yuck! DH coooked dinner lastnight- steak (from the wheelbarrow) with sage and garlic chips and kumara mash with spring onions from the garden through it - yum!

Not much to report from us really - looking forward to the Christmas break which seems to be approaching all too slowly at the moment.

love to you all,

Hoglet x

scottishminnie

Greetings from the end of the weekend - or, in the case of Hoglet, from the start of the new week.




The snow has gone thank goodness. I might have a chunky 4x4 which gets me around however it can't save me from the idiots on the road who think they can drive the same way in snow as in normal road conditions.


Candlelight - I'm so pleased you used the word "hooley". I was in Edinburgh last week and announced it had been blowing a hooley at home and nobody knew what I was talking about. It was immediately dismissed as a west coast phrase (which is very much looked down on) so it's clearly not!


I'm pretty much done with the C thing now - only one parcel to come and two things to wrap and that's me I do need to hand deliver some cards and pick up the turkey on the 23rd however I have booked my M&S collection for 7am to beat the crowds!


We had a central heating drama on Friday though - no heating which, when it was minus 4 was a huge pain. Turns out there is water at the bottom of our oil tank and we had fuel delivered on Friday which disturbed the water and forced it into the pump which then shut down so we had 26 hours with no central heating and no other form of heating which was no fun. We had breakfast yesterday morning with the oven on and the door open to heat the kitchen! Anyway, all sorted now and more weight to my desire for an extension with an open fire or a multi fuel burner! Hubby says that's "a hell of an expensive way to deal with a small problem" -he could be right


So , we are entertaining family on Saturday coming for a pre-Christmas meal. I'm kind of thinking beef bourguinon and perhaps a salmon dish. That would be pretty easy - just need no decide on a no fuss dessert and I'm sorted. Found 4 bottles of Lanson champagne at the back of a shelf in the garage so no need for any more alcohol although hubby dismissed it as "no better than diesel that stuff" - some people have no taste


Well, I'm off to write my to do list for the week. Amuses hubby that I have constant lists however that's just how I am and means I know exactly what I have to do!


Enjoy the rest of the weekend.


p.s welcome Hoi Polloi - good to see you!

flowertotmum

Good morning all..hope your all well..

Well i am sat here alone..hubby at work,girls in bed and dog asleep..so its just me a cup of tea and laptop..

We have been busy last few days..firstly my whole lamb turned up..i split cost with someone else..so i have a freezer full of lamb..got a free turkey and a bottle of blackberry whisky for free..

The girls and i baked for 3 days straight..lots of goodies all frozen or stored away..Iris was the tart filler..even though some got more than others..Fern popped the lids on mince pies and decorated them..lovely..the house smelt gorgeous all day..

We put all the decorations up yesterday..two trees..one for them and one for me..its like a military manouver to do it..Simon put up lights outside..we are a little late this year but i think it adds to excitement..we all ready have 3 presents under the tree..
We are going to continue working til the weekend then have a proper break from school...

Candlelight..i am so glad your girl is getting better..fingers crossed for her to get back to work next year..

Sm..o your dinner menu sounds lovely..what a bout a nice luxury cheesecake for dessert..as for the champers lol..diesel indeed..you not the only one who makes a list..i have a weekly list that i break down into a daily list..but it helps me get all things done..

MLW..i hope you have a great time at the market..the sounds the smell will be gorgeous and you will come home all christmassyfied..not a word i know but a good one..

Kate..hey hun have you moved in yet..is a good feeling to have your own home..sending you hugs and warmest new house wishes..

Aot..hello how are you..are you ready for christmas?..

Hoipoloi..hey there you all ok..

VJ'smum..helloo.you still busy babe.

Cheapskate..hello babe..you been quiet ..how is life treating you?

On a side note i caught Simon and girls doing a happy dance in the living room last night..i walk in and they singing "We got your christmas present" jigging about..obviously girls didn't realize it was a secret and blurted out "daddy got you vintage pastry forks"..o bless his little face..so i pretended to not hear and walked away..he was so pleased with himself for winning them for me..he has been watching them for a week and at the last minute bid on them..i have resisted looking at them so i will be nicely surprised on the day..i have bought him a Harry Dodson book about the Wartime Garden..he loves that man..its wrapped and hidden in jumper drawer..
right i have to go got things to do..
love to you all
ftm

flowertotmum

Me again..before i forget..
Horror story of the moment..after we had unpacked all our decorations and had the tree's up..it was lunchtime so had a break..Sam came through and said to me "Mum there is a wasp i think crawling up the voile in the dining room"....i went to look and flipping heck i hit defcon 1 in 2seconds flat..wasp wasp thats no wasp its a bloody hornet..i grabbed girls and literally threw them in the living room and shut the door..Sam did the manly thing and went with them..i was having palpitations..i have never seen anything so big..it looked angry and was buzzing loudly..so i retreated to doorstep and shouted Simon..who was laughing at me when i told him it was huge..the smile soon left his face when he saw it..he trapped it in the voile and then somehow manged to get it into a glass jar...ooh it was mad..stinging the jar and buzzing like billyo..fascinating to look at but very scary at the same time..he took it out side and disposed of it..after that we went through all boxes and bags checking..honestly if anyone had been stung by it i reckon they would have been seriously ill...Simon took a picture and put it on his facebook thingy..lots of people saying its a hornet..got shivers thinking of it..eww..so be aware when getting boxes out..would hate anyone to get stung..
take care all
ftm

VJsmum

hoglet121 wrote: »

VJ'smum..helloo.you still busy babe.

Hello all - yes, but am emerging from a long dark tunnel of marking. Things should lighten up after this week.

FTM - vintage pastry forks sound lovely. But your girls made me laugh, i remember my auntie taking me to buy a present for mum and "don't tell her". So i bowl in "we've got you a present, but i'm not to tell you what kind of chocolates they are" :rotfl:

Christmas seems to be happening some how - a trip to Kent at the weekend saw all the brothers and sister and dad pressies go. Am rather pleased as 4 nieces got "Pamper hampers" - all are young teenage so hopefully will like the eye shadow, lippy, face mask, nail varnish etc - along with fluffy socks and a small box of chocolates! Dad always gets a foodie based hamper (really a covered A3 paper box lid) - this year it had chocolates, jar of chilli red cabbage, lemon, gin and tonic marmalade, chutney (all made by a local lady and sold through our butchers), a massive slab of homemade christmas cake, biscuits and some non foodie stuff of a wheat bag (for his aches and pains) and a DVD. I get such pleasure from doing it - and he likes it. I wish someone would do one for me...

DD came home from Uni last week, 2 days early as a surprise. We had been out and came in at 10.30 pm, moaning cos DS had left the lights and the telly on - walked into the lounge and she was just sat there It was the loveliest surprise. I haven't had loads of time to spend with her - but we are going for lunch today. And she is here for weeks yet. So far she has got 4 firsts in her assessments - she really is where she wants to be and i feel all those unsuccessful auditions were meant as she is now on the perfect course for her.

It is my birthday this week - 21 again We are having a family meal out, and then OH and i are going to a hotel in the lake district on Friday for the weekend. Leaving the kids alone :eek: First time we've done that. OH won the weekend as one of those "randomly selected email" things. It is lovely and no driving as we will make the most of our free rail travel. it means we won't be able to do much when we get there - but that also has a charm. Hopefully we will get a days walking in.

Today is mostly about tidying the house - finishing putting up decorations, doing laundry, food shopping. The cleaner is coming in tomorrow so we should be fairly set.

Have a good day all..

[Deleted User]

FTM it was most likely just in the loft and had gone dozy with it being colder. We find big queen wasps hibernate in the bark of the logs in the log store and usually give the log a good whack on something before bringing it in to burn but that doesn't always dislodge them and we get the odd one waking up and pinging about in the lounge as it gets warm. They always make for the light so go to the window. I keep a jam jar on the window sill all the time along with a piece of card that I can slip over the opening when it's against the window pane and chuck them outside. Hornets though are the one thing in this life that truly terrifies me, so Simon was very brave. You might get him to check the loft on a VERY cold day to make sure there is no nest up there, on a cold day they will be sleepy. If there if, don't let him remove it himself, get an expert pest controller, angry hornets are very bad news indeed.

candlelight_2013

:santa2: Lyn have a wonderful holiday and a safe journey. Keep warm I will miss you.

Candlelightx

[Deleted User]

Thank you Candlelight, I'll raise a glass of gluhwein to you all in my favourite market when we get there xxx.